Fire-resilient Urban Design: Integrating Ancient China Architectural Wisdom for Wildfire Prevention in US Cities
Journal: Journal of Building Technology DOI: 10.32629/jbt.v7i1.3744
Abstract
The catastrophic 2025 Pacific Palisades fire-which destroyed 6,837 structures despite deploying 5,677 firefighters and international air support-reveals systemic vulnerabilities in modern wildfire management. This paper analyzes three understudied historical systems from China's Song (960-1279) and Qing (1644-1911) dynasties, augmented by contemporary Sichuan Province case studies, to propose a paradigm shift in US urban fire resilience. Through detailed examination of the Xiang-Fang zoning system, Forbidden City material science, and Sichuan belt space strategies, we develop an integrated framework combining passive firebreaks, community-driven governance, and biomimetic material technologies. Using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) modeling of historical fire spread patterns and GIS analysis of the Palisades ignition zones, we quantify how adopting these principles could reduce structure-to-structure ignition risks by 41-63% in WUI (Wildland-Urban Interface) regions.
Keywords
fire-resilient urban design; wildfire prevention; Song Dynasty urban planning; Qing Dynasty material innovations; Sichuan ecological design
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